Although King’s Wood is an open access site, group visits should be arranged via the SVA office and notified well in advance to allow for safe coordination and proper care of the commissioned sculptures and their environment.

Benefits for Students

Exposure to an internationally renowned environmental arts project with works by artists such as Richard Harris, London Fieldworks, Rosie Leventon, Jem Finer and ongoing residencies

Physical social and health benefits to children who are leading increasingly indoor lives

Benefits of experiencing the particular environment of the forest, learning in a natural setting and learning about wider environmental issues

Developing self esteem motivation and confidence in children who struggle with learning in a normal classroom environment; particularly kinaesthetic learners

The opportunity to work in the forest using natural materials with professional artists/ ecologists

Encourages creative thinking and learning in the broadest sense

Some opportunities for involvement with larger projects (please see project section for more details or contact the office)

Some comments from visiting schools and groups:

“marvilos morning it was the best of my entire life my favirit sculpture was the cloud chamber”

“I really liked making the sculptures because it’s a challenge and I like a challenge once in a while. I also liked catching the grasshoppers because when they push off it tikles”

“children had a chance to physically interact with the living/non-living materials of the forest. A valuable tactile experience and the first chance of being near these materials for some of the children”

“Children that I’ve noticed that don’t particularly engage in the classroom have worked diligently the whole time, working together as a team. Children that wouldn’t usually be classed as leaders in the classroom are leading the projects they are working on.”

“ …at first they didn’t want to get dirty. At the end of the project they felt so comfortable with the environment that it didn’t matter.”

“Once again a big thank you to all your team and I look forward to hopefully working with you in the future as the work completed is vitally important; it addresses different learning styles and allows for a more creative curriculum where the children take a full and active part learning through doing at the same time establishing an appreciation and love for the natural environment”

“like being on holiday – child-centred, creativity first, out of the classroom, no right or wrong way, no inhibitions.”

“After lunch I assembled the bird with the help of different children from each group. One boy said to me ”Have we made a sculpture?” and was delighted when I said yes. Liz had been encouraging the children to write down words about the forest and I asked them to make something to decorate a tree as a thank you to the forest. For me these were the most magical things that the children made – from beautiful representation of a bird made of shaped sticks, to a tantalising parcel of pierced chestnut paper containing something rustling, to the simplicity and beauty of a foxglove flower entwined with a couple of leaves.”